How to Choose the Best Cot Bed

The best cot bed (Suggested Browsing) is a must-have for every baby. This guide has been created to assist you in choosing the right cot for your baby.

A premium option that will look great in Scandi-style nursery rooms. This sturdy and durable option can expand with your baby with three mattress positions and the ability to take the sides off to create a chic bench-style toddler bed.

Budget

When it comes to cots there's something for every budget and every nursery. There are a myriad of options with different levels of durability, with some converting into toddler beds for use through the age of preschool and beyond. The ones that can be turned into beds are more expensive, but they will last longer.

The Mamas & Papas Coxley was our overall winner thanks to its stunning design and easy-to-assemble design making it a great choice for those who want a top quality cot that will stand up to the test of time. The sleek design and warm color is perfect for the Scandi nursery. This cot sales bed comes with a drawer that mum tester Katrina believed was more suitable than cheaper cots with a drawer built in. It also has an anti-bite strip that runs along the top rails of the cot to prevent your child's teeth from getting stuck. However, at PS599 with a mattress that is sold separately this bed isn't cheap baby cots, and it requires an Allen key to make it functional.

A more budget-friendly option that still gives your baby a good night's rest is the Elementary cot from John Lewis' Anyday range. Our parents liked the simple design and simple assembly. The cot is compact when folded and can be stored away easily too, fitting into a carry bag that's as big as the carry case of a camping chair. It's not ideal for camping in the car, but should be fine for apartment life or those who don't need to move their cot a lot.

The SnuzKot is a good budget-friendly cot we recommend, especially if you choose to purchase the toddler kit and mattress extender (sold separately). It will grow with your baby until they reach four years old. Our dad tester loved that it could be converted into a minimalist-looking toddler bed, and created an atmosphere of cocoons by putting up a fabric canopy.

Safety

A cot that is well-designed will not only be in compliance with UK safety standards, but also feel sturdy and secure. Choose a sturdy design with safety bars or sides, and a solid foundation so that your baby cannot easily move out. Some cots come with extra features like teething rails or drawers for under-bed storage that will help you stay organized while your baby develops.

The Boori cot is constructed of sustainable Australian Araucaria wood and New Zealand Radiata, so you can be confident in the purchase. It converts from a cot to a toddler bed (leaving three sides open for security) and has an option of an extension kit that takes it all the way to a double bed when your child is ready.

This stylish and simple cot is a great choice when you're on a tight budget. It's easy to assemble and has clearly labeled components and clear instructions. It comes with three mattress settings which allows you to adjust the height as your baby grows. It can be used with standard crib sets mattresses and is a great crib purchase for the money.

If you're looking for a premium cot, this is a great option. It offers four mattress positions in cot mode and will last until your child is three years old. It can also be folded and has wheels that lock, making it easy to move it from room to.

This cot is lightweight at just 6kg and comes with a handy bag for travel. It's also extremely robust with strong frame that can stand up to the demands of boisterous toddlers. Our test subjects found it a little difficult to put together, but the instructions were well-written and clear. They also noted that the slats are far enough apart to prevent fingers getting caught in between them. It is also more expensive than other cots we have reviewed, however the durability and functionality are worth the cost.

Design

It's easy to overlook the design when buying a cot-bed. Your baby's cot will be used for a long time therefore it's crucial to choose one you like as well as is practical and useful.

The classic ickle bubba Bed is the perfect cot bed for design lovers, with its sleek modern take on a traditional sleigh design that does not have the bulky look that these beds can often come with. It also doesn't skimp on space-saving storage and has an extra drawer that slides under the cot, plus teething rails that can be connected to the side. It was sturdy and durable. The three-position height of the base allows it to grow with your child.

The Modena cot-bed by Tutti Bambini is a great value and comes in a panelled design that can be suitable for any nursery. It's made to be used until your child is six years old, before transforming first into a junior bed, and then into a stylish sofa bed. It's also one of the few cot beds we've tested with an opening with a hanging rail as well as teething rails, while its solid pine construction makes it a good choice for parents who want their cot to last for a long time.

The Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed is another option with an elegant panel design. It is available in a range of colors to complement your nursery's decor. Our mom testers loved its nifty features, with the drawer for storage being particularly useful to store bedding and clothes. It's also the easiest cot bed to put together. All the pieces are clearly labeled, and the instructions are easy to follow. It's also a great choice for those who have little space since it can be flat-packed and collapsed. It's a standard cot mattress (140cm by 70cm) and is suitable for children from birth to toddlerhood. A kit for extension allows it to be used up to 10 years of age.

Convertibility

If you're a newly-wed, there are plenty of baby essentials to think about. But one of the most important is a good quality cot bed - you want something that lasts as long as possible and will change with your child to give them a secure and comfortable place to sleep.

Although most cots can be made into toddler beds with the purchase of a conversion kit certain cots are designed to go beyond this. The Boori Eton Cot Bed is our top pick. It can be converted into a toddler (L207cm, W147cm, H90cm) as well as a daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm), and sofa (L234cm, W145cm, H70cm). This makes it our most durable choice and will last from birth to the age of.

It's expensive compared to some of the other cot beds that we test, but it comes with a premium design and feel that will suit any nursery. The instructions could be more clear, but our parent testers were impressed by how easy it was for to construct and install. This is not a major issue however, since it was still very simple and took just 30 minutes to complete.

This cot comes with four mattress base heights. This is an upgrade over the three standard options. This lets you adjust the cot as your child develops. They may require an upper or lower base level depending on their age and ability. It comes with teething rails which are helpful and a plastic strip on the top to prevent it from being bit.

This cot is available in several different Scandi-inspired finishes, and our dad tester was particularly keen on the grey finish. It's not cheap however it is a the best crib newborn value for money because it will last until they reach toddlerhood and beyond. It also comes with a one-year warranty which gives you assurance that it will be sturdy and durable. The only thing you'll have to purchase an additional mattress, which is not included.